When we think of automobile accidents, we often consider the physical toll they can take – the damaged property and possible injuries – but we often don’t think about the effect an accident could have on our careers. The truth is that having an accident can have a devastating impact on your career in several different ways.
Impact One – Lost Work from Injury
Best case scenario, if you are injured in an accident you walk away with a mild case of whiplash. Unfortunately, whiplash is not nearly as minor as we are often led to believe. In a nutshell, whiplash is a neck injury that affects both the muscles and the bones in the cervical spine. In the short term it can cause pain and stiffness that makes it difficult to sit at a desk for long periods, or drive long distances. That “minor” whiplash can have you out of commission for days, and even weeks, and during that time you could be losing business. In the long term it can cause joint dysfunction, chronic pain, and even affect your mental functioning, which can negatively affect your long-term business prospects.
A more severe injury, like a traumatic brain injury, could put you out of commission indefinitely, and possibly destroy your business.
Impact Two – Lost Work from Loss of Property
If you rely on your vehicle for work, you could be in serious trouble if it is totaled and your insurance won’t replace it. Even if it can be replaced, you could experience several days of downtime while you get things sorted out.
If you rely on a passenger vehicle, you might be able to use a rental until you can get another. If you rely on a commercial vehicle, it could be more difficult to find an alternative.
The vehicle isn’t the only concern, however, there’s also all of the stuff in it, such as laptops or tools. If those things are damaged, you will also need to replace them. When you look at all the things that you use for work, and transport in your vehicle, the replacement costs could add up to a hefty price tag. Meanwhile, until you can replace them, you could be losing clients.
Impact Three – Loss of Reputation
If you are in an accident and found at fault, that can have a serious impact on your reputation. This is especially true if you are found guilty of driving under the influence, or of driving recklessly. If people are injured, or someone dies, that can further compound the damage.
In addition to the loss of reputation, you could also end up spending a lot of time in court, and even in jail, which can also drive away your clients.
Protecting Yourself
The above are just a few scenarios where an accident can ruin your career and livelihood. You can’t control the other drivers on the road, but you can take steps to reduce your risk and protect yourself if an accident does occur.
Having excellent driving skills and following the rules and laws of the road can all significantly reduce your risk of getting into an accident. Keeping your vehicle in good working order, can also reduce your risk; as can making sure that things are properly tied down if you carry cargo.
Having good insurance coverage can significantly reduce your personal financial liability if you do get into an accident. However, insurance could take a long time to pay out and might not immediately protect you if you find yourself incapacitated and unable to work and earn money.
In his blog, Michael Pines, an auto accident and personal injury lawyer in San Diego, talks about the high cost of medical care after an accident and how individuals often need legal assistance to get the financial help they need. This also extends to financial compensation for lost work and lost wages as a result of the accident. Although insurance companies are supposed to pay out, it’s a good idea to look into getting legal representation just in case.
Legal representation is also a big issue if you are found at fault. There could be times when the police make a mistake and declare you at fault when you are not, or there could be times when the situation is presented as more serious than it is. A good lawyer, who specializes in automobile accidents, can help you fight the charges and clear your name.
I always, always drive defensively. It doesn’t matter if I lose a few seconds on traffic as long as I’m alive!
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So important to have at least three months of expenses in an emergency fund.
I hear people say they don’t care about their credit score or don’t need credit. They never build their credit and then have an emergency and need some credit quick…but can’t get any. Credit isn’t just for reckless card spending, it can be used for good as well.
Great post.
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Car accidents can be devastating in all kinds of ways. I’m a big fan of having enough insurance coverage and I also have the umbrella policy just in case!
Kalen Bruce recently posted…The Slight Edge and How it Can Make You Rich
Accidents can bring a heck of experience especially with your work. I try all my best to be on the safe side by making sure my car is in good condition and covered by a credible insurance.
Amos recently posted…ETX Forex Trading Review
I am just thankful that I have never been in any car accidents. I know that it can really affect not only the physical but also the mental aspect after accidents; more importantly, the reputation.
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I totally agree that being charged of driving carelessly or guilty of DUI can be embarrassing, especially when you hold a good position in a high-status company. It affects your good reputation if you have violated the law.
One thing that my parents had me do was taking a defensive driving course. This was mostly because they wanted me to be safe and make sure that I knew how to handle the situation well. I have to agree with the article that if you know how to drive you can save yourself a lot of damage.
Wow, I never thought about all the different costs of being involved in a car accident. The fact that you can lose money from hospitalization and loss of a vehicle isn’t good either. It sounds like you should know of a good lawyer before you get in an accident so that you know who to call the second you realize you’re in one!
I never thought about how a car accident could actually end a career. However, there are many instances where that has been the case. No matter how much car insurance you have, if you are injured or paralyzed it will effect your quality of life.
I think it is safe to say that most of us are going to get into a wreck at some point. We are going to need a lot of protection around us. This will include the driving skills and insurance you talked about. The other thing that is a necessity if serious enough, would be a lawyer. http://www.medilaw.com/Seattle-office.htm
Getting in a serious car accident always an unfortunate event. It is also even more unfortunate when the car accident was your fault be it distracted driving or driving under the influence. I didn’t realize, however, the repercussions caused by serious car accidents. The scenarios that you give, such as not being able to get to work because of no transportation or getting injured so not being able to go to work at all, really do show the importance of getting protection for your court case. Knowing how to help yourself when you are suffering from these repercussions will help you come out of the situation successful and financially stable.
My cousin was involved in a car accident a while ago that wasn’t her fault. However, had she followed the advice you posted here to find legal representation she may have received greater benefits. Thanks for the reminders to get legal representation in the event of a car accident!
A friend of mine was recently injured in an accident, and I was wondering if she qualified for a personal injury case. It seems like she will have to talk to an attorney who can weigh in on the details of her case. Like you said, I think that every one should practice defensive driving to avoid situations like this.
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It’s scary to think how much a car accident could affect your career and finances. I found your tips about protecting yourself by hiring a personal injury attorney especially helpful. I didn’t realize that insurance companies can take such a long time to pay out and hiring an attorney is typically a good idea. I’ll be sure to keep this in mind in the event that I do get into a car accident.
I agree Sara, a car accident can do so many thing to your life it’s not even funny. I am glad that I always drive a s careful as I can, so I never have to deal with an accident. My wife and I take frequently take driver courses with instructors. We don’t want to get hurt, or have to repair our cars either.
Pauline, I had no idea that even minor whiplash could put someone out of work for weeks. It is important that these people get good lawyers to help them get the settlements they need from missing work. Like you said, if you are found at fault you will also need a lawyer.
Of course, if you are involved in any accidents. It will affect your career or job. Especially if you have a serious injury. This is the reason why people should be discipline in terms of driving. But there are people who drive drunk, texting while driving or they out of their minds. Driving is not an obligation it’s a privilege.
All of the information you gave is proof that you need to have a lawyer. As you said, you can lose a lot of time at work. You will also have a lot of medical bills to pay. The last thing that you want to do is go under when it comes to money. You want to make sure that you have all of your finances in order and that you are financially ready. One of the best ways to do that is to have a lawyer. Do you have any tips about how to find a good lawyer? http://kevinalexanderlaw.com
Getting in a car accident is the worst. I had my car totaled by someone and they gave me the wrong insurance information. It was a nightmare. Make sure that you always have your auto insurance up to date and that your car registration and auto tags are up to date.
I had never really considered the loss of reputation. As if it isn’t bad enough to have your car totaled, and spend weeks recovering from surgeries on your legs. To suddenly have everyone looking at you differently, and treating you like you’re fragile, is really dehumanizing.
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Good breakdown of how important it is to be a safe driving and to be prepared in case of an accident. After seeing how it can affect my career, I will definitely start to be more vigilant on the roads. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for helping me truly realize how detrimental a car accident really is for one’s own life. The hardest consideration of auto accidents is that there will definitely be multiple items of cost that raise in price for you. The most obvious issue is that your insurance will most likely go up.
Auto accidents are a very serious thing. They definitely do affect your career. I like your section about protecting yourself. I feel like that’s the most important part about being in an accident. I would call a personal injury lawyer to help you figure out complicated legal issues as well.
When you point at that there is a chance that you were said to be the person at fault when you were not, this is when you want a lawyer on your side. Personal injury lawyers deal with car accidents all the time, so they have a specific expertise in helping you out in this field. If I were in this position I would hire one right away.
I agree that you should take measures to protect yourself if you’re in an accident. Even if you caused it, you may not be quite as at fault as it appears. Thus, you will need an attorney to represent you so that your fine is a fair amount.
I like how you mention the importance of having good insurance. Like you say, insurance can help reduce personal liability for an accident. However, what’s the best option if you have a dispute of insurance? Are there specific lawyers for that?
Getting in a car accident is no fun. I can still remember my first (and only!) accident. It happened just a few weeks after I turned 16.
Insurance adjusters, investigators and others may call you for information about your car accident or truck accident. If you have a message or music on your voicemail or answering machine that could offend a jury one day, we suggest you change to a more basic greeting, to give the best first impression
Drive with normal speed is good for all and easily avoid the accidents.
Hey,
If we injured due to car accidents then it leaves a significant effect on our carrier. Because it will take time to recover the problem
Big thanks to God I never involved in any accident. But I know the pain those are suffering from car accident injury, motorcycle injury or Riverside injury problem. So always drive your car and crossing the road very carefully this is beneficial for you.
One summer as we were driving along the highway and we stopped for the traffic and suddenly a blast occurs at the back of the car where into. Then we noticed that we got hit by a truck and the driver is under the influence of alcohol. None of us got any bruises but a year after one of my friend who’s with me in that accident had major backaches and find out that her spinal had cracked because of the accident. Thanks.